Collapsible tube dispenser



March 9, 1965 w. E. WOLFORD 3,172,559

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Filed Feb. 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 William E Wo/ford 1N VEN TOR.

BY fiwwi-i March 9,1965 w. E. WOLFORD 3,172,569

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Filed Feb. 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mil/am E. Wo/fard IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,172,569 CQLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER William E. Wolford, 1515 College St., Batesvilie, Ark. Filed Feb. 16, 1962, Sex. 'N'0r173fi33 Claims. ((31. 222-103) This invention relates to a-novel and useful collapsible tu'oe dispenser and more specifically toa dispenser adapted to house and dispense dental cream from a collapsible tube. Although the tube dispenser of the instant invention has been primarily designed for the purpose of dispensing dental cream, it is to be understood that the dispenser mayalso be used to dispense other types of creams which are presently marketed in collapsible tubes.

The collapsible tube dispenser of the instant invention includes an elongated tubularmember or housing for enclosing and progressively squeezing a collapsible tube of dental cream with the outlet end of the collapsible tube being in registry with an outlet neck portion carried by oneend of the tubularhousing. The housing is provided with a mounting bracket which isdisposed relative to the housing in a manner which will enable the mounting bracket to be secured against a vertical supporting surface with the dispensing housing substantially. horizontally disposed and projecting transversely outwardly of the supporting surface to which the mounting bracket of the dispenser is secured. The upper surface of the tubular housing is flat and constitutes a shelf upon which tumblers and other similar articles-normally found in bathrooms may be positioned. In addition, the mounting bracket for the housing of the tube dispenser also includes means defining a plurality of slots in which toothbrushes may beconveniently supported. Accordingly, it may be seen that the collapsible tube dispenser has been constructed in a manner whereby it may serve several different functions.

The main object of this invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser which may be utilized in dispensing dental cream from collapsible tubes in a manner which will prevent the tube from being crumpled, ruptured or otherwise rendered unusable.

A further objectof this invention is to provide a means for semi-permanently supporting a tube of dental cream or paste and in a manner which will prevent small children from obtaining access to a collapsible tube of tooth paste or similar material without. proper authorization from their parents.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible. tube dispenser whichwill also serve the functions of providing a shelf upon which tumblers may be disposed and to provide a rack by which toothbrushes may be supported.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser constructed in a manner whereby substantially all of the material may be dispensed from a collapsible tube.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible tube dispenser of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2, parts of the collapsible tube disposed in the tube dispenser being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of-FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but showing the slide block of the dispenser in an alternate position with the collapsible tube disposed in the dispenser fully collapsed;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the head portion of the mounting frame of the dispenser through which dental cream may be dispensed thereby;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the internal components of the dispenser and the retainer which is utilized to removably secure the head portion to the elongated tubular housing of the dispenser.

With attention now directed more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the collapsible tube dispenser of the instant invention.

The collapsible tube dispenser ill includes an elongated tubular frame or housing generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 and a mounting bracket generally referred to by the reference numeral 14. The mounting bracket 14 includes a plate-like portion 16 which may be adapted in any convenient manner for securement to an upright supporting surface and a plurality of ribs 18 eX- tend between the outer face 2i of the plate-like member 16 and one side of the housing 12 in order to support the housing 12 in a substantially horizontally disposed position.

It is to be noted that the housing 12, ribs 18 and platelik member 16 may be of one-piece construction and constructed of any suitable material such as plastic.

The housing 12 includes opposite side Walls 22 and 24 and top and bottom walls 26 and 28 which are joined to gether at adjacent edges. A rear closure end wall 30 extends between the rear edges of the walls 22, 24, 26 and 28 and is provided with a bore 32.

A head portion generally referred to bythe reference numeral 34 is provided and includes a forward end closure wall 36 which is provided with abutment flanges 33 that extend beyond the peripheral edges of the closure wall 36 and are abutted against the forward end edges of the Walls 22, 24, 26 and 28. The top Wall 26 is provided with a pair of bores 4i and the bottom wall 28 is provided with an similar pair of bores 42 which are registered with the bores 46. Upstanding bores 44 are formed through the closure wall 36 and are registered with the bores 49 and 42 at their upper and lower ends. A generally inverted U-shaped bail retaining member generally referred to by the reference numeral 46 is provided and includes a pair of generally parallel legs 48 which are interconnected at their upper ends by means of a bight portion at. The legs 48 are passed through corresponding ones of the bores 4ft, 42 and 44 and secure the closure wall 36 Within the forward end of the tubular housing 12. The closure Wall 36 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 52 and the diametrically reduced end portion 54 of a neck assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 56 is secured in the bore 52 in any convenient manner. The neck assembly 55 includes an outlet opening 58 and a removable closure cover or cap 60 which is ber 108 will move longitudinally of the housing 12.

formed integrally with the neck assembly 56 and is joined thereto by means of a flexible strap portion 62. In this manner, the closure cover 6% may be moved into and out of engagement with the outer end of the neck assembly 56 through which the outlet opening 58 opens.

From FIGURES 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings it may be seen that the inner end of the outlet opening 58 includes a diametrically enlarged threaded bore 64. A counterbore 63 formed in the inner end of the bore 52 defines an apertured socket which is adapted to snugly receive the tapered neck end 70 of a collapsible tube generally referred to by the reference numeral 72. The end of the collapsible tube 72 remote from the tapered neck end thereof is provided with a folded seam 74 to seal that end of the tube and an externally threaded neck portion 76 forms a continuation of the minor diameter end portion of the tapered neck end 70 of the tube 72 which is threadediy received within the threaded counterbore 64 whereby a firm union between the tube 72 and the head portion 34 is formed. Should any slack develop between the tapered neck end 70 and the head portion 34 during the very final stage of ejection of material from the tube, the neck end 70 may again be tightened in the bore 64.

The rear face 78 of the closure wall 36 is provided with a rearwardly opening recess 80, see FIGURES 2 and 3 and the recess 80 snugly receives a journal block 82 which is secured to the forward end of the wall 28 by means of suitable fasteners 84. The forward end of a screw shaft 36 is journaled in the journal block 82 and the rear end of the screw shaft 86 is journaled in the bore 32 formed in the wall 30. The rear end of the screw shaft 86 projects through the wall 30 and has a knob 38 mounted thereon and for rotation therewith The knob 88 has a transversely extending slot 90 formed therein in which a retractable crank arm 92 is slidingly received. Accordingly, it may be seen that the crank arm 2 may be slid toward the extended position shown in phantom lines in FIGURES 3 and 6 of the drawings to facilitate the turning of the knob 88 during retraction of the member 108.

The undersurface 94 of the top wall 26 comprises an abutment surface and it will be seen that one end of a flexible but resilient strap 96 is secured in the end wall 30 as at 98. The strap 96 extends longitudinally of the housing-12 and may be tapered throughout its length with its thinest end disposed forwardmost in the housing 12. In addition, it will be noted that the forward end of the strap 96 is notched as at 101 and is normally resiliently urged toward a position curled back toward the end wall 30 with the shaft 86 received in the notch 160 and the free end edges of the strap 96 engaging the upper surface 106. However, retaining means in the form of upwardly opening notches 104 are formed in the upper surface 1% of the bottom wall 28 and the free end portions of the strap 96 disposed on opposite sides of the notch 100 are retained from curling all the way to the rear end of the housing 12 adjacent the end wall 30 by means of their seating engagement in the notches 104. However, it will be noted that the notch 100 provides a means for the free end of the strap 96 to embrace the screw shaft 86.

An abutment and/ or slide member generally referred to by the reference numeral 108 and having a cross section complementary to the inside of the housing 12 is slidably disposed in the latter for reciprocal movement longitudinally thereof and includes a threaded bore 110 through which the screw shaft 86 extends. Accordingly, upon rotation of the screw shaft 86, the abutment mem- The undersurface 112 of the abutment block 108 is disposed in sliding contacting relation with the upper surface 106 of the bottom wall 23 and the upper surface of the abutment member 108 which is designated by the reference numeral 114 is disposed in sliding contacting relation with the undersurface of the strap 96. In addition, it will be noted from FIGURES 2 and 7 of the drawings that the rolled or folded end portion 74 of the tube 72 is removably seated in a downwardly opening notch 116 formed in the upper wall 26.

In operation, when it is desired to load the dispenser 10 the abutment and/or slide member 108 is moved rearwardly in the housing 12 until the major diameter portion of the convexly curved end portion 118 of the abutment block 108 is disposed beneath the notch 116. Then, the collapsible tube 72 may be inserted through the forward end of the housing 12 after the closure wall 36 has been removed therefrom. The folded end 74 of the tube 72 is seated in the notch 116 and the slide block or abutment member 108 may then be removed forwardly with the upper surface 114 of the slide block 108 disposed beneath the portion of the strap 96 immediately beneath the folded end portion 74 whereby the latter will be received within the notch 116. Then, the closure wall 36 may be secured to the forward end of the housing 12. Thereafter, when it is desired to dispense tooth paste or similar material from the collapsible tube 72, the closure cap is moved to the open position and the knob 88 may be turned in the direction required to move the abutment block 108 forwardly through the housing 12. Forward movement of the abutment block 108 will cause the strap 96 to squeeze the tooth paste or similar material from the tube 72. After the tube has been almost completely emptied, it will be noted that the convexly curved projection 118 is received in the rearwardly opening recess formed by the conical end portion of the collapsible tube 72. In this manner, the convexly curved projection 118 will assure that substantially all of the tooth paste within the tube 72 may be dispensed therefrom. In addition, it will be noted that when the abutment block 108 is moved to its forwardmost position that the free or notched end of the strap 96 will be disposed a spaced distance rearwardly of the tapered neck portion 70 of the collapsible tube 72. In this manner, there will be no necessity for the free end of the strap ?6 to be bent around the conical projection 118 on the abutment member or slide block 108. As the abutment block or slide block 108 moves to its forwardmost position, it will be observed from FIGURE 7 of the drawings that the free end of the strap 96 will still be engaged with the upper surface 114 of the slide block 108 thereby enabling the slide block to be reversed in movement and moved toward the rear end of the housing 12 defined by the closure wall 30.

From FIGURE 1 of the drawings it will be noted that the ribs 18 define vertically extending channels 122 which are terminated at their lower ends by means of the lateral ly directed flange 124 carried by the plate-like member 16. In this manner, one or more toothbrushes 126 may be supported with their shank portions disposed in the channels 122 defined by adjacent ribs 18. Further, the upper surface of the top wall 26 acts as a shelf which may be utilized to support tumblers 130 and the like and therefore it may be seen that the tooth paste or collapsible tube dispenser 10 of the instant invention may be utilized to perform a plurality of functions simultaneously.

The plate-like portion 16 may be secured to a suitable supporting surface such as a Wall in any convenient manner. Further, the threads on the screw shaft 86 and in the bore formed through the block 108 may be rounded. Still further, any or all of the walls could be constructed 'of transparent material so as to enable a visual inspection as to the amount of toothpaste within a partially used tube. Finally, the notch 116 is of a width sufficient to enable shifting of the folded end 74 longitudinally of the housing 12 upon final movement of the block 108 into direct engagement with the neck end of the tube past the free end of the strap.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A collapsible tube dispenser comprising an elongated mounting frame having a head portion at one end defining an apertured socket adapted to snugly receive the tapered neck end of a collapsible tube with the neck of the tube opening outwardly through said head portion, said frame including a longitudinally extending abutment surface along which said tube is adapted to extend and which is laterally offset to one side of the longitudinal center line or" said socket extending through the apertured portion of said socket, a movable abutment member, means mounting said abutment member on said frame for movement along and closely adjacent said abutment surface toward and away from said head portion and adapted to progressively squeeze said tube between said abutment member and said abutment surface upon movement of said abutment member toward said one end of said frame from the other end thereof, said abutment member, on the side thereof facing said head portion, including a flat upper surface and a convexly curved projection merging immediately with the flat upper surface and being of a size and shape to be received within said tapered neck end of said tube when said abutment slide member has been shifted to its limit position of movement toward said head portion, said mounting frame including a flexible semi-rigid strap extending longitudinally of said frame, secured at one end to said other end of said frame and movable to a position closely adjacent and generally paralleling said abutment surface, said strap having its portion adjacent said abutment member disposed between said abutment member and said abutment surface and comprising a bearing surface along which the adjacent surface of said abutment member is longitudinally slidable.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap is of a length whereby its free end terminates a spaced distance from said socket when said abutment member is positioned furthest from said other end of said frame and said strap is disposed between portions of said abutment member and said abutment surface.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap is resilient and the free end thereof is normally biased away from said abutment surface, and catch means carried by said frame between the opposite ends thereof and spaced from said abutment surface engageable with said free end to prevent the latter from curling back against said one end of said strap.

4. The combination of claim 1 including recess means in said abutment surface adjacent said other end of said frame, opening toward said strap and adapted to snugly and freely removably receive the folded and sealed end of said collapsible tube remote from said tapered end thereof.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said main frame comprises an elongated tubular member, said head portion being removably secured in said one end of said tubular member and the other end thereof including a closure wall.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said abutment member comprises a slide block of non-circular cross ection longitudinally reciprocal in said tubular member, a screw member journaled for rotation between the oppo- 6 site ends of said tubular member and threadedly engaged with said slide block.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein one end of said screw member projects outwardly of said closure wall, a knob mounted on said one end of said screw member and disposed outwardly of said other end of said tubular member.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said knob includes a retractable crank arm.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said head portion defines a neck portion opening outwardly of said one end of said frame, a removable closure cover operatively associated with the outer end of said neck portion.

10. A collapsible tube dispenser comprising an elongated mount ng frame having a head portion at one end defining an apertured socket adapted to snugly receive the tapered neck end of a collapsible tube with the neck of the tube opening outwardly through said head portion, said frame including a longitudinally extending abutment surface along which said tube is adapted to extend and which is laterally oifset to one side of the longitudinal center line of said socket extending through the apertured portion of said socket, a movable abutment slide member, means slidably mounting said abutment slide member on said frame for movement along and closely adjacent said abutment surface toward and away from said head portion, flex ble semi-rigid strap means disposed between said flat and abutment surfaces and secured in said frame against shifting longitudinally thereof and adapted to progressively squeeze said tube between said abutment surface and said strap means upon movement of said abutment slide member to ward said one end of said frame from the other end thereof, said abutment slide member including a flat surface opposing said strap means and a convexly curved projection merging immediately with the fiat surface and facing said head portion, the forwardmost portion of said projection being aligned with the center of said socket and of a size and shape to be received within said tapered neck of said tube when said abutment slide member has been shifted to its limit position of movement toward said head portion and to substantially completely occupy said tapered neck when said slide member is in said limit position of movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,849 3 13 Starrett 24284.8 1,568,921 1/26 Roberts 222-93 1,742,536 1/30 Hausberg 222-103 2,496,004 1/50 Geyer 222102 2,712,400 7/55 Stauifer 222101 X 2,772,028 11/56 Lopez 222-95' 2,911,128 11/59 Krautkramer 222543 2,936,006 5/60 Henley 222101 FOREIGN PATENTS 162,696 5/55 Australia. 810,446 12/3 6 France.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

LEVERNE D. GEIGER, Examiner. 

10. A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MOUNTING FRAME HAVING A HEAD PORTION AT ONE END DEFINING AN APERTURED SOCKET ADAPTED TO SNUGLY RECEIVE THE TAPERED NECK END OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE WITH THE NECK OF THE TUBE OPENING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID HEAD PORTION, SAID FRAME INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ABUTMENT SURFACE ALONG WHICH SAID TUBE IS ADAPTED TO EXTEND AND WHICH IS LATERALLY OFFSET TO ONE SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID SOCKET EXTENDING THROUGH THE APERTURED PORTION OF SAID SOCKET, A NOVABLE ABUTMENT SLIDE MEMBER, MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID ABUTMENT SLIDE MEMBER ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ALONG AND CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID ABUTMENT SURFACE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID HEAD PORTION, FLEXIBLE SEMI-RIGID STRAP MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLAT AND ABUTMENT SURFACES AND SECURED IN SAID FRAME AGAINST SHIFTING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO PROGRESSIVELY SQUEEZE SAID TUBE BETWEEN SAID AUBTMENT SURFACE AND SAID STRAP MEANS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT SLIDE MEMBER TOWARD SAID ONE END OF SAID FRAME FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID ABUTMENT SLIDE MEMBER INCLUDING A FLAT SURFACE OPPOSING SAID STRAP MEANS AND A CONVEXLY CURVED PROJECTION MERGING IMMEDIATELY WITH THE FLAT SURFACE AND FACING SAID HEAD PORTION, THE FORWARDMOST PORTION OF SAID PROJECTION BEING ALIGNED WITH THE CENTER OF SAID SOCKET AND OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID TAPERED NECK OF SAID TUBE WHEN SAID ABUTMENT SLIDE MEMBER HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO ITS LIMIT POSITION OF MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID HEAD PORTION AND TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY OCCUPY SAID TAPERED NECK WHEN SAID SLIDE MEMBER IS IN SAID LIMIT POSITION OF MOVEMENT. 